Russian man picks the wrong vehicle to road rage on

A Russian man got quite a surprise when he attempted to confront the driver of a Mercedes-Benz SUV that cut him off while driving. In a video posted by the Facebook page “Dashcams Don’t Lie,” a Russian man driving a BMW begins filming the encounter with his phone after the SUV cuts him off. He speeds around the vehicle and blocks its path, then exits his car with his phone in hand and moves to confront the driver of the SUV.

Although it is clear the driver of the BMW believes he is going to give the driver of the Benz an earful, when he knocks on the window of the SUV he is greeted by a Russian police officer, dressed in tactical gear, holding a pistol. The man with the cellphone quickly retreats as the video ends. It is believed the cameraman simply says, “They are our own. Let’s go,” when he is met with the gun; however, no other context is given.

You can watch the video here:

The incident underscores the danger of road rage incidents, which, according to a report from ABC Action News in Tampa, Florida, are on the rise. Between 2014 and 2017, road rage incidents involving firearms have become more common, with 277 such incidents reported in Florida during the four-year period. The incidents are not limited to Florida: California and Texas saw similar numbers. Of the incidents in which a road rager pulled a gun, 20 people were killed and three times that many injured.

“There’s a lot of evidence that some people feel pretty grounded in other social situations—friends, family, work—but somehow when they get in the car, there’s this Jekyll and Hyde transformation,” said Doctor of Psychology Robert Nemerovski, a therapist specializing in these incidents, while speaking to Men’s Health. “I think there’s something about the act of driving that allows some anger to come forward for people who wouldn’t normally see themselves as angry.”

Although road rage is relatively common, there are strategies drivers can employ to beat it. According to an article published by Men’s Health, simple strategies such as “adjust the expectations for your commute, think about how you react, and focus on your own driving” can help drivers to keep calm when they are “wronged” on the road. However, if you think you have a problem with road rage, Men’s Health recommends finding professional help through the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Joseph LaFave writes about finance, maritime issues, healthcare, the National Guard, and conflicts around the world. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as an EMT in Florida and as an ESH engineer for Lockheed Martin supporting several DoD and NASA satellites. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University and a Master of Science in Management from Southern New Hampshire University.